araba

Where does the word "araba" come from? It comes from Ottoman Turkish araba, passing through Russian before entering English (1810s).

Araba’s story begins in Ottoman Turkish: araba meant “cart, carriage.” Ox-drawn, often painted and gilded arabas carried Ottoman women on outings. By 1800s, the word had taken hold in Russian as arba. Used for the high-wheeled carts of Crimea and the Caucasus. It reached English by 1810s as araba. Described by English travellers in the Ottoman Empire and Crimea. Today, araba means a heavy covered cart or carriage of Turkey and the Caucasus.

1. Stage 1 · Ottoman Turkish · medieval araba "cart, carriage", ox-drawn, often painted and gilded arabas carried Ottoman women on outings.
2. Stage 2 · Russian · 1800s arba "high-wheeled cart", used for the high-wheeled carts of Crimea and the Caucasus.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1810s araba "a Turkish covered cart", described by English travellers in the Ottoman Empire and Crimea.